Chapter 22
"Damn it! I've had enough!" Christy's patience snapped. She had never been so humiliated in her life.
Holley charged forward, her Taekwondo training fueling her confidence as she aimed a swift kick at Christy.
Just as Christy was about to lose control and fight back, the nurse who had run for help returned, trailing a group of doctors, Maxton among them.He barked,"Stop it!"
His commanding voice cut through the chaos.Amid the doctors on the fifth floor, Maxton's charming features were unmistakable.
Marissa spotted him instantly, but didn't linger on him,intending to slip away before the situation dragged her in deeper.
"Holley!" Maxton's long strides closed the distance as he yanked her aside, his tone icy. "How could you attack a doctor? This isn't your personal playground!"
Christy was an associate chief physician at Harmony Hospital and a protégé of Maxton's father. If his father caught wind of her being assaulted by a patient's
family, the lectures would be relentless.
"Apologize to Dr. Griffin!" Maxton pushed Holley toward Christy, his demand firm.
Holley squirmed, refusing to back down, her fury driving her to attempt a headbutt while hurling insults."You can't tell me what to do! Let me go, you bastard!"
Maxton calmly held her at bay, unfazed by her flailing,his voice cold. "Apologize, or I'll have to inform your family about this!"
"Go ahead!" Holley's eyes blazed with rage, practically spitting fire. "She insulted me first, and you're blaming me without even asking! That's ridiculous!"
Maxton knew Holley's stubborn streak well; when she felt wronged, she was unyielding. Her tears and outbursts didn't faze him, nor did her accusations. He stood firm. "Apologize!"
"I won't!" Holley bit out each word with defiance."She insulted me first. I've got a witness. Ask her-she saw it all!"
Holley jabbed a finger at Marissa, who had been observing the drama unfold, then added, "When Rita was brought in, you needed machines to check her,but this doctor just glanced at her and knew it was no big deal..."
"Enough!" Christy cut Holley off, stealing a nervous glance at Maxton. Seeing his focus wasn't on Marissa,she exhaled slightly, but his next words made her tense again.
"Are you a new intern?" Maxton turned to Marissa.
He had been abroad, swamped with work and out of touch with hospital affairs. He had only heard vague mentions from the director about promising new interns and assumed Marissa was one.
Her demeanor during the chaos, however, irritated him.
"You're all colleagues. Why didn't you intervene when a patient's family was causing trouble?"
Maxton's tone carried impatience; he hated handling petty disputes. His assistant was on leave, so calling him back wasn't an option.
Marissa gave him a lazy glance, her voice cool."What does her tantrum have to do with me?"
Maxton's expression darkened, and his voice dropped as he said, "You're colleagues!"
"And?" Marissa's response was breezy, her attitude nonchalant.
Christy, watching the tension spark between them, felt a thrill, hoping it would escalate.
She had known Maxton for years and knew his type-he couldn't stand women who defied him.
Even if this woman was Dr. Moore, Christy had nothing to fear.Maxton would never engage with a woman who had that attitude.
"Thank you, Dr. Wallace, for looking out for me.I really appreciate it," Christy cooed, her voice dripping with sweetness as she dropped her earlier sharpness,gazing up at Maxton with a fragile, pouting expression,tilting her head to highlight the red mark on her cheek for added pity.
Holley rolled her eyes so had they nearly vanished,scoffing at Christy's performance. "What's with the act? Weren't you just full of yourself? Now that Maxton's here, you're playing the victim? If a man really cares for you, he will like you as you are. Why fake it?"
Holley mimicked Christy's syrupy tone, tilting her head in a mocking imitation.
"Enough!" Maxton massaged his temples, clearly more exhausted by this drama than any academic debate."Dr. Griffin, go and treat your injuries first."